The Ultimate Guide to Computers

Useful Guide on How To Degauss A Hard Drive Data destruction is an exercise that has been around for quite a while now. Proper destruction of sensitive data safeguards the security of an organization and its clients. While paper shredders and incinerators where useful in the past, new technology is now needed. Drive degaussing is a very useful way of erasing information stored in a computer hard drive. If you are considering this option, here are the main things you need to know. To begin with, here is a brief description of how degaussing works. Degaussing is the effective process that erases or destroys information stored in a hard drive. The degaussing process can be accomplished by using a machine known as a degausser. Data is usually stored on a hard drive in a magnetic pattern. A drive degausser creates a strong magnetic field that disrupts that pattern and thereby destroys the information. Once a hard drive has been degaussed, none of its data will be readable anymore. To achieve the desired results during degaussing, you need to know the media you are dealing with. The ability of a hard drive to be degaussed by a certain machine will depend on its coercivity. Generally, you will need a stronger degausser to erase data on a hard disk with higher coercivity rating. Conduct enough research to ensure that the one you buy will do the work effectively.The Ultimate Guide to Computers
Degaussers also differ in many other ways other than the strength of the electromagnetic they generate. One of those features is whether the machine requires electricity or not. Others are also designed to handle large volumes of hard drives while others for fewer hard drives. Portable degaussing machines come in very handy when a company has offices in different locations. There are even government approved degaussers that are recommended due to their effectiveness.The Ultimate Guide to Computers
The actual degaussing exercise is quite straightforward. All you do is plug it in and pass every individual hard drive on it.. The degaussing process can also render the hard drive unusable again on top of erasing current data. It is therefore advisable to use a degausser when you have no further use for the hard drive. If you are wondering what to do with a degaussed hard drive, you can sell it to recyclers who retrieve useful parts. For companies that always have a lot of data to destroy, it is advisable that they buy their own machines. Other companies with lesser workloads should hire professional data destroyers to do the job for them. Most of these companies can destroy the data at your premises or you can go to them. Such companies will not only destroy the data, they will also get rid of the hard drives for you.